Destination Imagination Joins The SockKids To Publish Book By Destination Imagination Blog – New Anti-Bullying Children’s Book Now Available We’re excited to announce that you can now purchase a copy of “The SockKids Stand Up Against Bullying,” a children’s book that was developed in partnership with the SockKids. Written by authors Michael J. Sullivan and Shelley Larkin, the book follows Ethan, an elementary school student and Destination Imagination team member, who discovers how bullying hurts everyone and the importance of being courageous enough to speak up. In addition to the story, children’s counselor and licensed therapist, Jamie Ross, gives adults and children guidelines on how to handle bullies. The book also includes a foreword by DI CEO, Dr. Chuck Cadle, and five creative activities for kids. This book is written in a fun and engaging way, and Destination Imagination is honored to have partnered with SockKids on this project. Click here to purchase your copy of “The SockKids Stand Up Against...

A Mother Fights On In Her Daughter’s Memory By Michael John Sullivan It was a February night like no other in the Freeze family household — one that will live in heartbreaking, reflective memory forever. Seventeen year old Payton told her family something terrible was going on at school. There were no indications that 17-year old Payton Freeze was thinking about committing suicide. “She did not disclose the real bullying until the night before her suicide,” said Payton’s Mom, Kim. “She used to say that the kids were mean.” Payton’s Dad, Brent, discovered her body. Kim Freeze had taken previous action in defense of her daughter. “I complained to the school back in November that Payton was stating the kids were being “mean” to her and the counselor stated she would meet every week with her and she did not (say the same thoughts).” It was in the following February when Dad found Payton. “I am doing my best,” Kim said. Kim added: “The police have not closed the case. So we don’t know anything.” Left behind are not only grieving parents but Joshua Hollingsworth, a sister Kayla Berlin and her grandparents James and Kim Berlin and Bob and Lois Freeze. The pictures Kim Freeze shares on the Facebook pages of her daughter and the family are both beautiful and heart wrenching. The Freeze family is doing everything they can to keep their daughter’s memory alive, whether it would be on social media or at the high school where Payton was supposed to graduate this year as a senior. “We have fought to get our daughter remembered in the yearbook and at graduation,” Kim...

Jim West Makes Impact With Anti-Bullying Stance By Michael John Sullivan How does a man become a leading bullying expert in a nation overwhelmed with such an important issue? Perhaps it’s the home grown experience. Jim West once said in a previous interview he was the type of child he is trying to help today. “I’m not sure you can say I was a bully,” he said with some hesitation. “But I picked on other kids, because there was domestic violence going on at home with my father.” The SockKids organization met with West in his Orlando offices last week to discuss the many issues facing parents and children today, including the growing harsh problem of bullying. “Unfortunately, it’s taken off to a higher level with cyberbullying,” West said. “Bullying cases have tripled due to the internet, social media, and cyberbullying.” West has spent the last 16 years in reaching out to parents and children with an assortment of issues. The SockKids focused on the issue of bullying since our book will be released this week. “We try to take a proactive, positive approach to the children being bullied,” West said. West’s organization, Total Life Counseling, has camps during the summer in which he and a number of counselors work with children. “We run it for about about three weeks, twenty kids a week, a total of sixty for the summer. We try to encourage those being bullied to respond in a unique way. “For example: One kid said to another basketball player, ‘your three-point shooting sucks.’ I told him to respond this way. ‘Yes, my three-point shooting sucks....

Destination Imagination Steps Up Against Bullying By Michael John Sullivan Destination Imagination CEO Dr. Chuck Cadle (far left in picture with Michael John Sullivan and Shelley Larkin) stepped up against bullying with his pen and his generosity last month. Cadle wrote the foreword in the new SockKids‘ book,, “The SockKids Stand Up Against Bullying.” Cadle expressed his profound thoughts on the issue of bullying and the impact it has on all our lives. In addition, Cadle purchased 2,500 books of the SockKids’ book and has distributed over 2,000 of them to educators, volunteers, and Destination Imagination team managers. This beautiful act of kindness has already had far reaching impact. While at the 2016 Destination Imagination Global Finals in Knoxville, Tennessee, many parents and children approached the SockKids booth and expressed their gratitude for the story, the book, and the message it is sending. Children also told us how they were bullied and that they were happy Destination Imagination and the SockKids were focusing on this important issue. Cadle remains dedicated to this cause and continuing to make an even deeper impact. “It was a great launch to the book,” he said. “We’re happy it’s reaching people.” Cadle says he’s going to dedicate his energy and resources in making sure the impact is felt world wide. And the SockKids are equally happy to have collaborated with Cadle and Destination Imagination. We will be providing links in the future to the book as well as featuring it on our website....